I. The Taisho Emperor (Yoshihito, 1879-1926)

II. Taisho Political Crisis: Constitutional Law vs Imperial Rescripts

III. Modern Japanese Political Theory

    A. Yoshino Sakuzo (1878-1933) minpon shugi

    B. Minobe Tatsukichi (1873-1948) "Emperor Organ Theory" tenno kikan setsu

    C. Hozumi Yatsuka (1860-1912) "traditional" (ritsuryo) view: emperor as sovereign

IV. Universal Manhood Suffrage (1925)--crowning achievement of "democratic" era

V. Appearance of Left-wing Movements: Socialism, Communism, Anarchism, etc.

VI. Diplomatic Cooperation with "Democratic" Camp

    A. Anglo-Japanese Alliance and WWI

    B. Washington Conference (1921-22): US/GB/Japan 5:3:3

    C. London Naval Conference (1930)

VII. Ominous Developments

    A. Great Kanto (Tokyo) Earthquake of 1923

    B. Exploitation of WWI for expansion into Asia/China

        1. German holdings in Shandong peninsula

        2. The Infamous "Twenty-One Demands"

    C. Treaty of Versailles

        1. Rejection of "racial equality" clause

        2. Concession prize: Shandong peninsula---May 4th Movement